The Best Elementary Schools Downtown
In one sense, finding a public elementary school for your child is easy in New York: you go to the school you're zoned for.
The reality, of course, is not easy at all.
The sad truth in the city is that most neighborhoods still suffer from a shortage of top-notch elementary schools, despite improvements in recent years. That has sent families scrambling to find housing in one of the desired school zones, sending real estate values in those neighborhoods soaring. Many have been priced out.
Lower Manhattan is a lucky exception. Downtown is home to a number of top-notch elementary schools, giving parents unusual choice. Think of it as yet another perk of living in one of New York's best neighborhoods.
We've drawn up a list of the best of the best, as an aide to parents trying to decide where to settle in advance of their kids starting kindergarten. All of the schools on our list have been given an "A" by the city's Department of Education, as part of its impressively rigorous own grading system. We've combined city data with numbers compiled by sites like Greatschools.org and Schooldigger.com, and we've talked to parents and educators in the neighborhood about which schools we recommend. We looked at test scores, attendance numbers, and diversity stats to draw up our alphabetical list. (We limited this list to public schools, meaning that private schools -- of which there are many in the neighborhood -- weren't included in the list, nor were charter schools.)
Think of this as we did, which is as one piece of the elementary-school puzzle in New York. How the pieces fit together will depend on your family and your kids.